CUBITAINER® and bag-in-box (BiB) systems both provide reliable, effective liquid packaging solutions — however, their properties and benefits are different across applications.

To help packaging professionals choose the best option for their specific needs, the team at Hedwin has analyzed the key differences between the two and outlined their unique features and advantages. Below are three major differences to keep in mind when selecting a liquid packaging solution.

The field of liquid packaging solutions is constantly evolving.

No matter how ideal a solution may seem, there are undoubtedly areas in which it could be improved.

The design of liquid packaging solutions encompasses a tremendous number of factors, each of which adds to the difficulty of achieving perfection. The process starts with the type of liquid being packaged; this can range from food and beverages to paint, ink, cleaning chemicals, and medical and pharmaceutical liquids, all of which have their own packaging requirements.

LDPE (low density polyethylene) is an extremely versatile material, lightweight, durable and fairly inert. It is the material of choice for many popular packages. According to the National Association of Container Distributors, about 75% of all polyethylene produced globally is LDPE. Our proprietary blends of LDPE and/or sometimes LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene) in CUBITAINER® take advantage of these flexible material properties in every way possible. However, the resins used to manufacture Cubes® aren't compatible with every filling material.

To further expand the possibilities of packaging for LDPE, secondary material treatments create options for manufacturers who have requirements beyond the expectations of standard LDPE packaging. These treatments allow CUBITAINER® to work in some surprising places!

Customers in the industrial industries often choose a Fluorinated Cube® for enhanced chemical resistance. In this process, fluorine molecules are bonded to the inner and outer surfaces of the CUBITAINER®, to double-coat the Cube® and limit the effects of aggressive chemicals. The fluorine prevents permeation and degradation of the container itself. Such degradation can lead to lost or contaminated product, warped containers, damaged labelling, and leaks or emissions. It does not affect the recyclability, weight or longevity of the Cube®, either. We have seen greatest success with fluorinated CUBITAINER® in the adhesives industry.

Many of our food and beverage customers opt for additional PVDC (Saran) coating to prevent oxygen permeation and protect their flavors or fragrances. This PVDC coating can extend the shelf life by up to 10 times! It leverages the best of the barrier properties of PVDC with the malleability of LDPE in forming the Cube®. However, the coating can make the Cube® more brittle than LDPE in its normal state, so it's a good idea to enforce the CUBITAINER® with a double wall corrugate carton prior to shipping.

Buyers in the medical, reagent and biopharma space sometimes put CUBITAINER® through a gamma irradiation sterilization process to ensure utmost purity. CUBITAINER® is manufactured in a clean, low-particle environment. Our operators go through an air shower and wear protective "bunny suits" during production to reduce possibilities for outside contamination. We can also take steps such as double-bagging the stacks of CUBITAINERS® to minimize exposure to outside air. However, this is not enough to meet some sterile requirements, and a secondary process becomes necessary. The secondary sterilization process is costly, but is the best assurance when stringent aseptic packaging requirements are in place.

We love finding solutions which take CUBITAINER® into new applications!

As of June 2017, Hedwin no longer manufactures this type of product; we invite you to explore our CUBITAINER® product line as a possible alternative.

Did you know that Hedwin actually invented drum and pail liners, and these innovative products are essentially still in the same formats?

US Patent 2748673 was issued in 1956 and patent 3027044 came along in 1962 for products which were eventually trademarked WINLINER®, HEDLINER® and PAYLINER® trademarks, manufacturing methods and products which are still in use today.

We are the liner experts! We prove it every day with the most reliable and durable liners in the industry.

Our field defect rate for all four brands of liner-PAYLINER® pail liners, HEDLINER® drum liners, WINLINER® round bottom bags, and TOPLINER® pail dividers-is well below 1%, and has been for years. In fact, there have been no reported defects for WINLINER® or TOPLINER® in recent memory, and generally we see just one or fewer per year for HEDLINER® and PAYLINER®. Liners from HDZA are the safe bet.

Some of this comes from the longevity and expertise of our workforce. Recently, we had to shut down the WINLINER® department so most of the employees could attend our annual longevity luncheon - an event reserved for employees with more than 25 years of service!

We have been producing the best liners on the market for the last sixty years... and we look forward to continuing to serve the industry for the next sixty years!

How much warehouse space do you have? Is it at a premium? Most companies deal with space constraints on a regular basis. Often, packaging is a major culprit in overwhelming warehouse space. Empty packaging takes up a lot of space - and it's empty!

For common 5-gallon packages, a standard pallet holds about 64 blow-molded round tight-head pails or 108 stacked open-head pails. But storage of packaging prior to filling doesn't have to take up that much space!

Quality starts with our name. In 1946, Hedwin founders Thomas W. Winstead and Lenox Burkhed staked their names and reputations on the quality of their newly-inventedCUBITAINER®. Today, the name Zacros America challenges us to be the “Ultimate, Uncharted and the Highest” in every endeavor.